Hillary should choose Warren as running mate

It is becoming increasingly apparent that the 2016 presidential campaign is going to come down to two familiar faces. Hillary Clinton, it appears, will be facing no or token opposition on the Democratic side and Jeb Bush has all the money locked up on the Republican side. Ultimately, Republicans go with the “next man up” with all the money.

So what can we expect from Clinton-Bush II, except different players with the same name?

Not much.

For disclosure, I was and am a Hillary guy. When she ran against President Obama, I thought she was more qualified. And the years since only increased her resume. Secretary of State is a big deal in a world closer than any time to total chaos.

That being said, Hillary is not new, exciting or certainly as right as the party would like. What she is selling is outstanding, but we heard it all before.

That being the case, if I were in the Clinton camp, my first recommendation would be to break all the traditional models. She needs to do something dramatic and unifying of the party.

So when she announces her run for the presidency in a few weeks, she should take the unprecedented step of naming a running mate at the same time. She should say that a world in chaos needs a president who has foreign policy experience, knows world leaders and understands the game. Therefore, since she is likely to be consumed with possible Armageddon (not an exaggeration if the Iranian hardliners and Senate seditionists get there way), she is naming a running mate with strong economic bona fides.

Yes, she should early on name Elizabeth Warren, economic law professor and senator from Massachusetts as her running mate.

None other than Sarah Palin recently said at a recent conference that Hillary and Jeb Bush, the likely GOP nominee, are so close on issues they should be running on the same ticket. And, to some extent, it is true. To those true righties among us, Hillary is too cozy with Wall Street. The same cannot be said for Elizabeth Warren. And while some donors may be put off by Elizabeth Warren, the populist appeal will make up the difference.

There is no indication that Secretary Clinton and Senator Warren are friends, allies, colleagues or otherwise. But if Hillary wants to stir the core of her base, Elizabeth Warren is the way to go. And the selection puts two powerful campaigners on the trail for the duration of the campaign. And if they don’t really get along or see eye-to-eye on all issues, it would not be the first time. John Kennedy despised Lyndon Johnson. Ronald Reagan was almost forced to select George H.W. Bush as his running mate, still seething about the “Voodoo Economics” campaign. (Bush was right, by the way. Trickle-down economics don’t work.) Bush himself did not think he would be considered for a running mate.

It doesn’t take a long time to remember when Sarah Palin shot John McCain upward in the polls with a single speech. Elizabeth Warren will do the same thing for Hillary Clinton, except that Senator Warren has staying power, reads newspapers, understands economics, and has a substantial history with the base of the Democratic Party. Elizabeth Warren is the real deal.

Jeb Bush will be formidable. Hillary needs to do something dramatic. It doesn’t get any more dramatic than balancing the ticket with the most popular and populist Democrat around.